I recently started doing a little rock-criticism for Tucson's listener supported radio station: 91.3 KXCI. An awesome station like this gets loads of CD's from hard working musicians, and needs those sounds reviewed before dumping them on the DJ's.
So, not only am I listenening carefully for FCC banned words, I'm trying to translate the music into a blurb that will get it into the hands of the appropriate DJ. That being said, most of it is terrible.
However, it all deserves a listen and I've discovered writing about music is in fact... really difficult!
So, I've chosen to review an album review for this little excercise in critical writing analysis.
From Spin Magazine, a review of PJ Harvey's latest: Let England Shake.
To begin with, it familiarizes the reader with PJ Harvey's very developed artistic style and puts this album in context with the previous one.... "Let England Shake is a gloriuos uncoiling".
The review goes on to explain it's background: where it was recorded, it's political stance (or lake thereof). The reviewer highlights the affects of these with specific track examples.
The most striking notes of the review are how effectively they make the reader feel in a way similar to the music itself. Going so far as to compare a song to "a plastic Easter egg nestled in real grass". It's bizarre, but this really works.
The review is point-on in describing the sounds on the album, quoting lyrics and naming the most notable instruments.
It wraps up by summarzing PJ a bit more - the essence of her sound and her evolution as a musician.
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